John Ballantyne Cairns

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John Ballantyne Cairns (born 1942) is a retired minister of the Church of Scotland. He began his career as a solicitor, then studied theology and was ordained in 1974. His first charge was the parishes of Langholm, Ewes and Westerkirk. He later led Riverside Parish Church, Dumbarton (1985–2001), and then Aberlady and Gullane Parish Churches in East Lothian until his retirement in 2008. In retirement, and as of 2011, he has worked part-time as a locum minister at St Columba's Church in London. After his Moderatorial year, his formal title is the Very Reverend Dr John Cairns.

Cairns was Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland in 1999–2000 and was Chaplain to the Queen in 1997. He became Dean of the Chapel Royal in Scotland in 2006 and has chaired various General Assembly boards and committees. The 1999–2000 Assembly was held at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre so the Scottish Parliament could meet in the Church’s Assembly Hall.

He has received several honours: Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (KCVO) on 12 July 2013; Commander of the Order of St John (CStJ) and Knight of Justice of the Order of St John (GCStJ) on 15 January 2013.